As every frequent traveller knows, flying is safer than crossing the road. Confidence in the aviation industry is occasionally rocked by big accidents, such as the deadly Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 Max accidents happening within five months, but the adage remains true. In 2018, 556 people died in flying accidents, according to the Aviation Safety Network, while the World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that around 1.35 million people die each year in road traffic accidents. However, did you know that the 2000s constituted the most dangerous decade for air travel? Or that China is the second deadliest country to drive in? A survey of the riskiest routes around the world by overseas removals company 1st Move International reveals some deadly data about trains, planes and automobiles that travellers should know before they go. UNPREDICTABLE PLANES The number of deaths in aircraft crashes rose sharply last year, but there's no reason for frequent fliers to panic. The 15 … [Read more...] about The deadliest countries to travel in by road, rail and air
Cycling industry news
Time to think about getting out of your next crisis
What exactly is crisis communications? Crisis communications is closely related to reputational management, and is one of the founding pillars of PR. It’s probably what our industry is best known for because it’s highly visible. Companies’ reputations are enhanced or destroyed by how they communicate in a crisis. How you communicate during a crisis is just as important as how you fix it – sometimes more important. Reputational damage lasts long after a crisis is over. Sometimes a company’s reputation can actually be enhanced through good communication, even amid a disaster. A good example of this is AirAsia in 2014, when CEO Tony Fernandes’s highly effective response helped the company recover quickly after an air crash that killed 162 passengers. He understood that the damage to a company’s reputation from poor communication is more costly in the long run. But it’s not easy to build the capability. It is highly specialised, and it takes … [Read more...] about Time to think about getting out of your next crisis
Shoppers’ online snarls hurt businesses
“Zero Friction Future”, reports results from a Boston Consulting Group (BCG) survey of 1,200 Thai consumers who purchased products or services either online or offline in key verticals such as e-commerce, retail and financial services. It found 90 per cent of consumer respondents encounter friction at each phase of their journey, and 50 per cent of them drop off once they encounter it. The report estimates the annual opportunity cost of friction in Asia-Pacific at $325 billion, including $14 billion for Thailand. The study shows that key industries like e-commerce, retail and financial services could grow their annual revenue by $2.63 billion, $2.08 billion and $127 million respectively if the problems were removed. The report recommends that businesses embrace digital technologies and introduce a circular framework that is closer to a customer’s real-life experience. John Wagner, country director of Facebook Thailand, said that it is common for … [Read more...] about Shoppers’ online snarls hurt businesses
Ottawa offers Alberta a deal on oilsands emissions
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By Alex Ballingall Ottawa Bureau Wed., May 1, 2019 OTTAWA—The type of oilsands developments that emit the most greenhouse gas could be exempt from new federal reviews for major projects—but only if Alberta keeps its cap on emissions from that sector. The proposed exemption was included in draft regulations published Wednesday that outline which new developments would be subject to federal reviews under Bill C-69, legislation to revamp project assessments in Canada that has been denounced by some industry groups and the Conservative opposition. Environmental policy advocates slammed the proposal as a failure to place climate change at the heart of the new assessment process, while a leading oil industry association questioned why Ottawa would tie its decision to review certain projects to a political “caveat” like an emissions cap. Federal Environment Minister Catherine McKenna emphasized that the proposed exemption is open for … [Read more...] about Ottawa offers Alberta a deal on oilsands emissions
Rx: A longer, healthier life span
Not too long ago, I sat in a room full of ASEAN health writers visibly excited to hear some hearty news at the Bayer media conference. Over the years, Bayer has been giving us innovations that warm the cockles of the heart. For instance, have you heard about this wonderful drug called Xarelto (rivaroxaban) that can prevent and treat blood clots in those who have atrial fibrillation (AF)? In layman’s lingo, AF means an irregular heartbeat that can lead to blood clots, heart failure, stroke, and other heart-related complications. (Fact is, AF patients are five times more at risk of a stroke than those without AF.) More, this drug can improve clinical outcomes for a broad range of cardiovascular diseases, which are today’s leading cause of death worldwide. All the while, I thought it was cancer or the much-dreaded Big C. Taken once daily, Xarelto (20mg) resulted in a 60-percent risk reduction in stroke with a lower risk of the most feared intracranial bleeds, … [Read more...] about Rx: A longer, healthier life span